It’s Christmas…the season of warmth and cheer! You may find holiday gatherings, parties and potlucks a bit overwhelming at this time of year, but it always helps to remember how much a little thoughtfulness and good manners can add to the season.

Here are a few ideas on keeping the season merry and bright:

Christmas Cards

Paper cards should be thoughtfully selected for each recipient, signed personally by your own hand, and genuinely sent with a heartfelt wish.

Send your family letters only to the select few on your list who really know you and would appreciate hearing about your accomplishments and how tall your children are now.

Be sure to personalize your ecards with a simple, but special message to keep them warm and sincere for the holidays. If you don’t know what to say, click here to see our blog on that very subject!

Make sure you match your cards (paper and/or ecards) to your recipients– faith-based sentiments should go to those who would appreciate them. It’s best to stick to general sentiments (“Happy Holidays, etc”) for your non-Christian friends.

Make sure humor cards are tasteful and will make someone smile or laugh.

Remember that the best cards always come with a simple note, even if it’s just the word “Love” followed by your name.

Christmas Gifts

Respect your own budget and select or create gifts that you are genuinely happy to give.

Never “re-gift” in the same circle of people to avoid giving someone a gift they gave you the year before.

Remember that any gift you give with love is valued and appreciated by others. From cookies you bake to hand-made crafts, the whole idea of gift giving is an expression of genuine love and kindness.

Remember that it isn’t necessary to match or “out-give” someone else. You simply need to embrace the truth that it is the thought that counts.

If you wonder whether you need a gift for someone, err on the safe side, and give something simple like an ornament or a favorite recipe.

Always be grateful to others no matter what you receive expressing smiles, thanks and hugs for their generosity to you.

-Christmas Parties

Do take a little gift to the hostess of any party you attend. Holidays are busy for everyone and those who choose to open their homes and hearths to you deserve
a little extra gratitude.

Remember to send a warm note of thanks when the holidays are over to all those people who made your season merry and bright. We’ll have some tips for you about what to say in your notes in our upcoming “Thank You” blog on Dec. 28!

Be the best guest possible—offer help where you see a need and don’t overdo the alcohol–being a good guest is part of the joy of any celebration.

Christmas Tipping

Although holiday tipping is never required, it’s always appreciated and shows that you’re pleased with the service rendered. Obvioiusly, if you don’t feel it’s deserved, then, by all means, don’t tip.

When tipping someone you see on a regular basis (housekeeper, caregiver, manicurist, etc.), you should always include a thank you card or note with a personal message.

Again, for those you see on a regular basis, you should tip what would be considered the cost of one “session.” (If you see the same hairdresser once a month, your tip should be equal to the cost of one appointment.) Nannies, housekeepers, etc. generally receive one week’s pay, while the standard for paperboys, trash collectors, etc, is usually between $10-25.

Public servants may not accept cash gifts, so your mail carrier or child’s teacher might appreciate a book, gift certificate, chocolates or perhaps a hand-made gift (as long as the value does not exceed $20.)

A good rule of thumb is to use your best judgement on what you tip and to whom. If you’re not certain, check with friends or look online to see what’s standard in your community.

However you celebrate Christmas, share it with love and joy. Remind yourself that there’s a spirit of genuine friendship and community at Christmastime that’s even more special at this time of year. Embrace that spirit and join in the fun. After all, it’s part of what makes this such a happy season!

It seems like Christmas is right around the corner and you’re probably already busy decorating, buying gifts and getting ready to send out Christmas cards and ecards–but when you finally have the time to sit down and write them out it’s pretty easy to get writer’s block. Well, since today is Christmas Card Day, we just wanted to help you get started. Just click here and you’ll be directed to our blog that’s filled with lots of ideas for things you can add to your Christmas cards or at least help you get started with your own ideas.

Let the Countdown Begin…

It’s just one month away from that holly, jolly Christmas celebration and if you’re wondering how you’ll get everything done, just check out the suggestions below. With
a little pre-planning, organization and a few tips you could easily get ahead of the game. Here we go…

Update your email list and address book so you’ll be ready to send your ecards and Christmas cards a bit earlier this year. Of course you can find a wonderful assortment of Christmas ecards at bluemountain.com and if you prefer sending cards the traditional way, you can choose and personalize your favorites from
the Print at Home section!

A good rule of thumb for making sure gifts get to their destinations in time is to send 12–15 days in advance. So shop early and take advantage of some of the great deals you can find today!

Of course Black Friday has come and gone but you can always take advantage of the incredible price reductions and bargains online on Cyber Monday (11.26.12)! You can shop in your pajamas, avoid the long lines and sip coffee as you browse! Check out the following link– http://dealscybermonday.biz/ to see some
of your favorite stores like Best Buy, Macy’s,
and Target and what they’re offering Christmas shoppers.

If you wrap your gifts as you buy them, the job will go a lot smoother as the seasonal crunch begins. Add a sticky note to the wrapped box to remind yourself of what’s inside and who the gift is for. Then just add bows and tags right before Christmas or before shipping so your gifts are fresh and beautiful on delivery.

Last year’s Christmas wraps and cards are perfect for recycling…they make great tags, bookmarks, decorations for gift boxes and more. Click here for some more great ideas!

Consider an early gathering with friends to swap some of your Christmas decorations so you each have new items to work with as you decorate your homes.

Do a Christmas cookie swap get-together, so you can have a variety of cookies without having to bake several different kinds yourself.

Whatever you do to make Christmas fun and festive, make sure you take a little time for yourself. A little hot chocolate or eggnog sipping to go along with those cookies is always a good thing! Can you pass the nutmeg please?

“I wanted this card to have a warm traditional Christmas feel that was also magical, ” David says. “Everyone who watches the story gets involved by clicking through the scenes to help create the magic.”

It is said that “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You” was written in the very first Christmas card. If you would like to come up with something a little more endearing we have some suggestions for you–we’re happy to help with some great Christmas quotes and messages that would be welcome in any Christmas card or eCard!

Christmas Quotes

Sometimes you don’t have to write much to get your idea across. And whether you’re sending a warm, traditional message or a funny one, the person receiving your card will appreciate your personalized touch. Here are 10 of our favorite quotes this time of year:

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly. ~Andy Rooney

There has been only one Christmas–the rest are anniversaries. ~W.J. Cameron

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
~Charles Dickens

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart. ~Washington Irving

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas. ~Peg Bracken

At Christmas, all roads lead home. ~Marjorie Holmes

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love! ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. ~Author unknown

I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. ~Harlan Miller

Christmas Messaages

These simple messages are perfect for adding a little “extra something” to your Christmas cards and eCards this year:

May your days be filled with magic and cheer!

Decorate your Christmas with joy!

May all your days be happy and bright!

Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a joyful holiday season.

Jolly holly-days to your and yours!

Merry up and have your best Christmas ever!

HO! HO! HOpe your holidays are filled with fun!

Christmas…hope yours is all about the merry!

Merry Christmas to someone who’s always on Santa’s “nice” list!

Merry Kiss-mas!

God bless us, everyone

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season
and all the best in the coming year!

Our eCard of the Week this week is His Great Love - one of Blue Mountain’s beautiful religious Christmas ecards that reminds us of the reason for the season. The above artwork gives us a sneak peak at this wonderous eCard!

This card features a gorgeous snowy night, which Blue Mountain artist Pam Trautman brings to life. When Pam was designing this card she was thinking about the magical feeling she gets when she steps outside during a big snowfall. “I get inspired from standing in the quietness and watching the snow fall,” she says.

Take a minute to enjoy this beautiful card today, and if you love it as much as we do, send and share it with everyone you’re thinking about this holiday season!

We are excited to bring you an inside look at one of our favorite new Christmas eCards this year! Throughout the month of December we’ll be selecting one eCard a week to display on our blog along with a look at some of the artwork featured in the card and inspiration behind the greeting.

Our pick this week is Penguin Medley. This adorably fun animated Christmas eCard features our favorite tuxedo-wearing feathered friends. Set to classical Christmas music, this card mixes animation and video clips. Artist Terry Flores worked her magic to bring the spirit of the season straight to your screen with this happy eCard!